540 jail inmates die in six years in Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal, March 18 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Jail Minister Antar Singh Arya Tuesday informed the state assembly here that 540 inmates have died in jails of the state due to various reasons in the past six years from Jan 1, 2002 to Feb 10, 2008. Replying to a question by Kishor Samirte of the Samajwadi Party (SP), the minister said 112 jail inmates died in one year - from Jan 1, 2007 to Feb 10, 2008.

Of them, 107 inmates died due to illness, three committed suicides, and two were murdered.